Combination license plate and tail light



April 24, 1928. 1,667,126

T. MARTIN COMBINATION LICENSE PLATE AND TAIL LIGHT Filed March 1'7, 1926 IN VEN TOR.

THOMAS Adina TIN.

\ A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

"UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFlC THOMAS MARTIN, or PIEDMONT, camonm sssmaomr oNE HAL'F T0 cnms'rmn A. JoR'eENsEN; or rrnnmon'r, CALIFORNIA.

ooMBI vn'rIoN ICENSE PLATE AND TAIL LIGHT;

The presentiiivention relatesito improve-- plate so that the characters show up red at night time and give the warning signal for which the tail light is intended.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is 11- lustrated iiithe accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a perspective View of my tail light and license plate,

Figure 2a vertical section taken along line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 a vertical section taken along line 33 of Figure 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention I wish to have'it un derstood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My light housing 1 is preferably made of sheet iron bent into the curvature shown in Figure 1 to present the top and bottom as well as the front face of the light housing while straight end plates 2 provide the end walls. The housing leaves a rectangular front opening and the walls of the housing are set off near the front edge to form an all around ledge 3. The extremities of the front edges are curled into a continuous roll 4 as illustrated in the drawing.

The'ledge is intended to seat the frame 6 which is rectangular in form and comprises a strip of metal bent in cross sect-ion as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 to provide a roll 7 from which two layers 8 and 9v issue the former being bent upwardly to provide a flange 11 and the latter extending horizontally to provide a seat for the plate 12 and.

the glass 13 while small extensions 14 may be turned upwardly to lie against the rear face of the glass. Hinges 16 are made to surround the rolls 4 and 7 and are secured Application filed March 17, 1926. Serial No 95,337. i

to the bottom of the housing and the frame in any suitable manner. Fasteners 17" are hinged to the: top of the frame as shown at 18 -andhooks 19 pivoted, thereto as shown at 20 which latter hooks are adapted for en- 6 gagement with pins 21 and may be tightenedthereupon' by' means of a thumb nut 22.3

A suitable bracket23'rises from the front edge of the top of the housing and may be used for securing the housing to the rear end of the automobile. It is preferably provided with elongated slots 24 throu h which screws may be threaded into the b0 y of the automobile forholdiiig the housing in place. The manner of using my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The housing is secured to the rear end of a motor vehicle by means of screws passing through slots 24 in the brackets 23. The light housing has a suitable number of electric lamps 26 supported therein. The license plate 12 and a glass 13 preferably colored red, are supported in the frame 6 and the latter is hinged at the bottom as shown at 7 and provided Withfastening means 17' at the top thereof.

The advantages of this arran ement will be readily understood; the lig t housing forms a firm support for the license plate and prevents the same from vibrating or rattling, while at the same time the lamps in the light housing shed'their light through the perforations in the license plate andcause'the lettering or numbers on the latter to show up at night time as clearly, as at day. The fact that a red glass is interposed between the license plate and the lamps causes the perforations in the license plate to show up in the color customarily adapted as adanger signal.

I claim: 1

1. A combination license plate and tail light comprising a casing having a rec-' tangular opening therein, the forward lower edge of said casingbemg offset to provide .a transverse ledge and terminating in it 'frame having supper and lower transverse rolled forward edges, hinged members connecting said frame to the lower edge of said casing and extending about the rolled lower edge of said casing and of said frame and fastening. elements attached to the upper edge of said frame and of said casingand extendingcompletely about the upper. rolled edge ofsaidframe' andcasingyas andffbr the purpose specifiechand a perforated'license plate and glass-plate mounted insaid frame.

2. A combination license" plate and tail light comprising a casing, said casing havinga fOT'WfllCllOWGli transverse edge:-w-hich: is offset to provide a seat and which ter minates in a downwardly extending rolled; edge; said casing, having: an upper transverse edgewwhich is offset to providea seat and which terminates in an upwardly rolled transverseedge, said casing having a: rectangular opening" therein definedfby. said seat, ,a-frame disposed in saidopening bearing against said seatg. said frame being formed of sheet metal and in'cross section, disclosing metalbent upon itself andprovi dedwith retainingflangeg anda forward roll adjacent said first mentioned roll, hingesconnecting;said frame to said casing and extending about the lower roll on said frame"andonxsaidicasing and fastening elements attached to said casing and frame, and extending; above the upper roll; on said casingi'and on said frame, a license plateand:

glass disposed between said retaining fla-nges said license plate' being: perforated and! means for: illun'nn'atlngx SfllCl casings y In testimony whereofI a'lfixmy signature.

THOMAS MAR-(HIN 

